New ‘Star Wars Rebels’ Featurette; Final ‘Clone Wars’ Episodes to Air in Early 2014

Every generation deserves a Star Wars movie trilogy to call its own, which makes it fitting that Episode VII will be released in 2015 – and thus, usher in a new era of space battles, force duels and memorable (in ways both good and bad) non-human characters for kids of the early 21st century. However, moving forward sometimes means having to leave something behind, as will be the case with the popular Star Wars: Clone Wars CGI-animated TV series.

Disney studio executives and the newly-appointed President of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy, do not intend to disregard everything that has come before in the Star Wars Universe hereon out; that includes, the non-movie canonical material produced across multiple platforms (TV shows, video games, books). Nonetheless, at this stage in the franchise’s development, bridging the gap between history and the future is not quite as important getting the next phase in the SWU started on the right foot.

Case in point, the upcoming Star Wars Rebels animated TV series will explore new story territory for the TV medium, yet also represent the handiwork of several writers, directors and animators who previously collaborated on Clone Wars. The newly-released Rebels behind the scenes video sneak peek - framed throughout by an introduction to the show from executive producer Dave Filoni (who also helped to oversee Clone Wars) – runs the gamut, in terms of which creative veterans of the SWU have been recruited in order to make this show a hit.

Here is the official synopsis for Star Wars Rebels, followed by the first look at the show’s central antagonist (“The Inquisitor”):

Star Wars Rebels continues the epic tradition of the legendary Star Wars saga with all-new exciting, action-packed adventures. It is a dark time in the galaxy, as the evil Galactic Empire tightens its grip of power from world to world. As the series begins, Imperial forces have occupied a remote planet, ruling with an iron fist and ruining the lives of its people. But there are a select few who are brave enough to stand up against the endless Stormtroopers and TIE fighters of the Empire: the clever and motley crew of the starship Ghost. Together, this ragtag group will face threatening new villains, have thrilling adventures, and become heroes.

[Click for Full-Sized Version]

Rebels, in case you weren’t aware, takes place in the 15-20 year period between Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope, which helps to explain why “The Inquisitor” bears a resemblance to the Starkiller character from The Force Unleashed video games series (in terms of the pair’s shared qualities, but not so much their appearances). Could this mean that “The Inquisitor” may end up being a foe whose motivation isn’t so clear-cut throughout the overarching narrative for Rebels, similar to Starkiller in TFU (gotta love that acronym)?

That might seem like a stretch for a kid-friendly cartoon series like Rebels, but it’s worth noting that Clone Wars started to explore more complex and somewhat adult story lines during its later seasons; meaning, people like Filoni might want to continue in that direction with their new Star Wars show, after honing their craft during the five seasons of Clone Wars. Moreover, the other executive producers on Rebels include Simon Kinberg – writer of next year’s X-Men: Days of Future Past and one of the developing Star Warsorigin story spinoff films – in addition to Greg Weisman, who previously created the animated TV series Gargoyles (one of Disney’s more sophisticated cartoons of the 1990s).

That’s not to say that Rebels will be as all-ages-encompassing as Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.on ABC – the former is still a Disney XD series after all – but part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s formula for success includes appealing to as many demographics as possible (for better or worse, from a creative perspective). As such, the upcoming wave of Star Wars movies and TV shows will strive to not ostracize longtime fans, even as they attempt to get youngsters hooked on creator George Lucas’ sci-fi/fantasy brand.

Star Wars fans – I have some exciting news! We have wrapped production on all of the remaining Star Wars: The Clone Wars episodes, and while that might be sad news in one way, it’s good news in another. It means you will finally get to see them. When, exactly, is a detail I cannot yet share. I can confirm that in early 2014 you will be watching the final episodes of The Clone Wars, including one of Master Yoda’s most challenging missions. So, get ready. We’ve got Clone Wars and Rebels coming at you in 2014. Animated Star Wars is alive and well. Trust in the Force my friends.

If by “technically the non-canonical material produced across multiple platforms” you mean “Completely canonical and fully supported by George Lucas and the rest of Lucasfilm”, then you would be correct.

“We’ve stuck to a very clear branding strategy for the past decade. This is Star Wars. Individual movies come and go, as do TV shows, video games, books. They all contribute to the lore of Star Wars, but in the end it is one saga and that saga is called Star Wars. We’ve wanted to send a clear message to our fans that everything we do is part of that overall saga.”

That’s from Jim Ward, the developer of the Clone Wars TV series.

“There is one overall continuity.”

That is from Leeland Chee, the man responsible for maintaining Lucasfilms ‘canon database’, in reference to all published Star Wars material.

I’m glad I will get some closure on the clone wars and find out what happens to Ahsoka. I guess I will give Star wars rebels a chance. The main reason I like star wars is because of the Jedi and Sith aspect, But this show sounds like it wont have that. I just hope its not an animated Star Wars 90210.

this is the best news for all star wars fan. our fix till the new saga continues on 2015. hopefully it wont be all and all ”Disney” product and will be more mature in theme, just look what Disney did to the avengers earths mightiest heroes, they stopped that program and started doing avengers assemble which is totally for younger demo graphs

Be happy if it’s gone,as it would not be the same anymore as it was planned !
Lukas said it’s Sopranos meets Deadwood,or game of Thrones style !
More mature,dark and violent !
With Disney at the helm we would get another show like Once upon a time,or S.h.i.e.l.d !! Terrible !

It’s sad,but the truth is,a mature Star Wars show is gone !
Same here with the new Rebels Show…it sounds very Kid friendly to me,
and a step back from what we come to know !

Really likes the Clone Wars series,and I do not think thats what Disney is interested in !
Please prove me wrong,and I hope I am !

I just hope it’s dark, like the last few seasons of Clone Wars, (in other words, the exact opposite vibe of what we got from that teaser trailer). I’m curious if this will acknowledge the events of The Force Unleashed, or ignore those games. I really liked the first one, so I hope they don’t just ignore it completely. Either way, I really like the look of “The inquisitor”, very imperialistic.

That trailer really brought me down, but this behind the scenes feature restores me faith in this show, but I’m still a little skeptical. I just want another good Star Wars show, something that’s not dumbed down or aimed solely at little kids.

One thing that always held until recently was that Darth Vader was such an imposing and intimidating character during that time frame because he was so unique. Lucas watered this down with hundreds of Jedi running around not more than a generation before ANH meaning the elder generation would still remember them as being real and tangible (thus breaking the mystique Vader would have held with the populace, his powers, and wielding an “ancient” weapon most people had supposedly never seen in person).

Now, on top of that, we have two Sith oriented characters running around this time frame in tandem: Starkiller and this guy. It kind of breaks the whole character concept of Vader being this mysterious fear-inducing unstoppable hand of the Empire.

I’ve noticed many recent animated shows based on franchises (Star Wars, Transformers, Batman) have been using rather cheap looking, generic CGI. I’m not sure what sparked the interest. Perhaps its very cost-effective compared to traditional cell based animation? It sure was with the last Transformers animated show.

Hence the generic design of the Inquisitor here. Clever and original name to boot.

“takes place in the 15-20 year period between Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope, which helps to explain why “The Inquisitor” bears a resemblance to the Starkiller character from The Force Unleashed video games series (in terms of the pair’s shared qualities, but not so much their appearances).”

Are you kidding me!? The show has too cartoon-ish animation the “Imperial Troopers are a freaking joke (their helmets are huge, which makes no sense) and the story is laughable. If they continue to do this to Star Wars i am gonna make it my soul mission to get the rights of the franchise in the hands of someone who wont screw it up!

I really dont like the fact that the awesome Clonetroopers are working with the bad guys in Star Wars Rebels, now! They were my favourite characters and I think they do not deserve to not get any attantion anymore…Rebels just focuses on one Story line, Star Wars the clone Wars had many different really interesting people! Best one is of course Captain Rex and his ARC troopersXD

I would not be so let down if they at least provided good animation. The shadowing is not very good.In addition, the soundtracks are also boring! Please don’t think I don’t like any of it. I loved the star-tours tie in on the droids episode. I don’t feel immersed in the world while watching. Just Mickey Mouse face shots where they concentrate on the face of the character and the eye, so the overall feel is that they’re only looking at the individual characters and not the Star wars universe, with the character inside of it. It looks like it’s made to appeal to younger audience and dropping the complexity of the adult media. I think a lot of the fans, who watch the clone wars, really appreciate it the Bollywood sounding music running in the background. Hope to see greater complexity in the future that will help us forget about the awesome characters left behind.